Bethlehem council talks trash

Bethlehem city officials tell council why they think mayor's proposal for a single hauler is a good idea.

November 28, 2012|By Nicole Radzievich", Of The Morning Call

In a room packed with residents who wanted to talk trash, Bethlehem City Council members appeared to be split Tuesday night over Mayor John Callahan's proposal to hire a citywide trash hauler.

While they appreciated an administration poll that shows a majority of residents support the concept if it leads to cheaper and better service, council President Eric Evans and Councilman Robert Donchez said residents who reached out to them were overwhelmingly against the proposal.

"If that's not clear, I don't know what is," Evans said.

And Councilwoman Jean Belinski drew loud applause when she flatly said she was against the single-hauler concept.

Councilwoman Karen Dolan said she could not respond to passion but would to facts. The administration presented the poll showing support for the hauler and projections that a single hauler would save the average resident $110 annually. She said council must answer how it can do the best for all residents.

"What City Council cannot do is practice protectionism," she said.

Councilman Michael Recchiuti framed the debate as an economic one, a way that would make the city's recycling center more self-sufficient.

And council Vice President J. William Reynolds and Councilman David DiGiacinto peppered the administration with questions on the proposal.

"If we're going to move to take this out, if that's the will of four members of council, we should have a plan. ... To take it out without a plan is unwise," Reynolds said.

The comments came during council's second budget hearing, the first major forum on Callahan's trash proposal.

Right now, city residents can pick from up to 21 haulers to take their trash, fashioning a package that fits their income and trash pickup needs. Some residents have said they don't like the one-size-fits-all trash collection that the mayor is proposing, arguing it hurts senior citizens who negotiate cheaper prices for fewer bags.

Callahan's administration has argued that hiring one hauler would make trash collection more efficient and, in the end, cheaper in the long run for most residents. His administration figured the average waste-hauling bill totals $410 annually when the city's recycling fee is factored in. His estimate for a citywide hauler is about $300.

"We firmly believe that we can get to that price," said Tom Marshall, city recycling director.

The mayor is proposing up to four containers weekly, recycling every other week, yard waste pick-up every other week April through October, one bulk item weekly and Freon items (with a $20 fee) monthly. The service would begin in October.

Residents sat through nearly four hours of the budget hearing and got their chance to speak at 11 p.m., which prompted some catcalls from the audience.

"We're getting stinkin' tired," one man called from the audience. "Some of us have to get up at 5 o'clock in the morning."

While the crowd thinned out by the time for public comments, the room still was packed with nearly 100 people and many wanting to speak.

Hauler Lou Cressman, a former city police officer, argued for the flexibility that private haulers afford to customers and questioned the details of the city's plan.

"I feel we're being ambushed here without sitting down and thinking about it," he said.

Trash hauling, which would bring in $500,000, is one of several measures that Callahan is proposing to balance a $72.1 million budget that reflects increased pension, medical and debt payments. The other proposals include an 8.5 percent property tax increase, an amusement tax, the sale of city parking lots and voluntary contributions from nonprofits.

City Council is scheduled to make amendments to the budget Dec. 17 and cast its final vote on the budget Dec. 20.